A HOOLIGAN DISPLAY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1921, Page 3

A HOOLIGAN DISPLAY

SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE DISTURBED.

THEOMONISTIC MEETING

WELLINGTON, May 30. A disgraceful exhibition of hooliganism was shown at the Paramount Theatre last night, during a service field by “Professor” John Howard and Madame Bailee, “teachers and demonstrators of Theomonism, Human Character and Psychology.” The hall was crowded When the preacher announced that the service would open with the hymn, “Onward, Comrades, Onward,” there were cat-calls, yells, and cries from all parts of the hall. During the singing of the hymn the disturbers sang “Abe, My Boy,” and “Mademoiselle from Armentieres.” The “Professor,” or “Bishop,” as the crowd called him, commenced to rend a prayer, but was greeted with further calls and stamping of feet. He kept on with his reading and made a little progress. Many of the congregation expressed disgust at the disturbers’ tarries, and one was heard to exclaim, “What about free speech?” Nothing

daunted, the preacher concluded his reading, while leather-lunged voices counted him out. “I’m for Ever Blowing Bubbles,” was the next item on the crowds’ programme while another hymn was being sung. “Cowards” the? “Bishop” called them “I have been allowed to hold my Sunday services throughout Australia, and 1 have come to New Zealand to know that the holding of Divine service is to he prevented.” He threatened to impose certain restrictions, and exhibited his ordination certificate A little peace reigned for a few moments.. A solitary policeman appeared, and was greeted with thunders of applause. “Our doctrines,” said the preacher, “are taught on Monday, Tuesday—” “Wednesday,” shouted the crowd, settling down to its stamping again. Raising his voice above Hie din, the “Professor” expounded his ideas on Theomonism, but his voice was drowned in noise and shouting.

“Ts this God's Own Country?” lie shouted. Cheers and cat-calls followed. “I have only been in New Zealand a month, and 1 don’t think it is ‘God's Own Country,’ ” a woman shouted. She was immediately engaged in wordy warfare with a number of other women in the vicinity, who stoutly urged that the disturbing element did not represent New Zealanders. “Some of the working classes arc out for w.hat?” asked tin? preacher. “Nought!” v elled the crowd. “You won’t hunt me out of Wellington.” he said, when quiet was resumed once more.

Details <*f how lie successfully fought an organisation .with half a million of money, in Australia, were now given by the preacher. Working-class people were behind the Theonionistie movement, he declared, as tln> disturbance broke out again. ITe appealed for British justice, and got a better hearing until lie used the word “Yahoo” in his discourse, when there were more yells, and the singing of “What Are We Waiting For Now?” The woman who disclaimed against God’s Own Country walked on to .the stage, picked up a couple of badges, and left the hall with her friends. “Come on ,mother,” the crowd called to Madame Ranee, as the preacher concluded.

“I wonder would you defend your own country?” asked the “Bishop,” in disgust. He was greeted with a storm of hoots.

When the preached called for questions. there were cries of “How much was there in the collection?” and

“Who’s going to win the double at Otaki, Bishop?” Asked to explain why there were seven days in the week, the “Bishop” said the source was in the Bible A woman rose in the dress circle, and was loudly applauded. “Tf you know anything about history, you’ll know that it’s source is in the ancient people of Chaldea,” she said, amid great applause.

“Ts it part of your religion to curse the Pope of Rome?” asked a digger, who mounted the platform, at tlk> invitation of the “Bishop,” who rend ft letter from a monk to a. theomonistic disciple in America, in reply. The digger was not satisfied, and was greeted with three cheers as he returned to his seat.

The crowd got angry at the “Bishop’s” doctrine in regard to Christ, expounded in answer to tho woman in the dress-circle, and they counted him out vociferously.

After further minor disturbances, the meeting melted away.